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I don’t intend to claim a new observation to a passage in the gospel of luke tonight, only that this is how I read it on this particular occasion.
Jesus healed someone that never asked for it.
In Nain, the funeral procession was in progress and Jesus interupts the procession by telling the widow not to cry and then touches the coffin and the only son “wakes” up. The crowd was not asking, the mom was not asking and certainly the son was not asking. I don’t mean to say that this is the only time it happened, but I have never considered this before.
What does this say about God?
“13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. ”Don’t cry!” he said. Luke 7“
THE FACTS:
- the woman was a widow
- since there was a large crowd this would seem to indicate she was well known
- the boy was an only child
- this is the only recorded time Jesus was in nain.
Jesus performed a miracle out of compassion that favored those who didn’t even ask or imagine this would happen. It wasn’t the eleventh hour, it was after the end. The credits of the movie had shown. There was no time on the clock.
“20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3“
A few more than 48 Hours until a crazy new chapter unfolds. I have no idea how this will play out except that God can do INFINITELY more than we might ask or think. The widow recieved compassion because of WHO GOD IS. The same goes for us. He is working miracles for us because of who He is and not just in response to our asking.
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God got me started in this. This being up to my neck with opportunity all the time, acting in belief with less than full information, presumption smashing as often as I make them, separation from rules while craving holiness. This calling out for Christ in the dark, candle lit, or sun shining full face with God’s creation stretching out before me, polishing silverware or greeting guests, in basements, second stories and walking on the street. In coffee shops never meeting a stranger always new people and faces. Leaps of faith with barely enough, more than enough. Exhaustion of senses, feelings, visions, and the kindling of all things new.
Father in Heaven, you will accomplish this work you began in me. I pray for these next 48 hours as you begin a new chapter in the lives of so many faithful I have met along the way.
Amen.
Jump
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Alright, I am doing it.
Yup.
I am turning one of my bedroom walls into a whiteboard. (When I say I, I mean Zach and I).
I want to be more deliberate with my time at home. My bedroom is more than just a closet and bed. I want to see more goals met (set then met) more scripture memorized, more thoughts clarified, more focus brought to my life. This is just one way, maybe it will work for you.
There are a million things to do with a whiteboard, I just want to be excellent at a few.
I was trying to figure out how to accomplish this cheaply and thought I would share. I learned of this from a blog here. An excerpt is below.
The Cheapest:
You can get a magnificently large — 4 by 8 feet –and fabulously cheap whiteboard for all of $13 at Home Depot. What you want is the Solid White Tileboard (sometimes called Melamine tile wall panel) used as a tile substitute in bathrooms. Some know it as showerboard because a couple of sheets of this and you have a nice waterproof shower stall. You’ll need a $1 tube of panel adhesive to glue this 1/8 inch surface to the wall or a piece of plywood. Melamine is the same stuff official whiteboards are made from. These huge sheets are slick and work perfectly well with dry-erase markers. You can cover an entire wall for $50. You can also cut it into smaller pieces with a regular circular saw.
NOTE FROM ZACH: “Eventually this board will not wipe off completely, the surface is a little different.” So because of this, and the fact that we are renters, we are going to screw this board in.
Maybe I can post some pictures of my late night brainstorming sessions.
Andy
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“Once you label me, you negate me,” a philosopher and friend once said. It’s true, especially in this century, that label hardly tell us anything about each other; and the way that our generation runs from being labeled and that being its own label is really besides the point.
I am American.
Today I sit here with the WORLD literally right outside my window. (Hamtramck) I am reading Google News as General Petraeus (the General of our army in Iraq (MNF-I), and second highest army ranking) is speaking to a senate panel about a timetable for pulling out our troops of Iraq. He is warning them against pulling out too many troops, too quickly. This is not a blog about the war.
History is being written today.
I am American.
Yesterday I was sitting with two friend at work (Cafe Cortina) they are both Albanian. One fled to italy because of persecution, then to move here, and the other moved here to marry and seek a better life. She is currently seeking U.S. Naturalization. So there we sat, two of us speaking italian, two speaking albanian, and all three of us speaking English. What does this have to do with anything, you ask? Maybe nothing. But maybe something deep.
In this generation we run from any label, stereotype, or preconceived notion that would potentially give anyone a clue about us. Why? Maybe we don’t really want people to know us, or be whoever we want to be, or just be “me” whoever that is.
But you know what?
I am American.
I was born in the United States of America. I have a U.S. Passport.
This doesn’t define me. HOWEVER. This links me to the history of America in the world.
Wherever I go in the World, I will be known as an American.
What does that mean?
I am responsible to understand the role of America in history. I must relate to people and be sensitive to the fact that every nation has a story and that by understanding their story I can relate to the struggle. It will help me share the story of Jesus. Isn’t it interesting the role of nationality and culture in relation to the gospels? Luke 10, John 4 are just two that come to mind.
More than every I am learning that every event that I was taught in school relating to a nation in the world (take WWII for instance) now has faces tied to it. It’s not ok to simply understand that “we beat up the bad guys and dropped a bomb” but that every country and in turn every person was affected.
To the Albanian friends at work and the world class German chef, the Italians that I spent time with in Coldigioco, and my italian friends here and abroad. To my Bosnian neighbors, the Yemenese owners of the market I go to, the Polish woman we love so deeply that comes to REAL Church and the Bengaladeshi friends who live next to the church. To the pakistani customers I served at the restaurant, the yugoslavian landlords, the russian man down the street who knew no english as I passed him in the evening and so I told him “Dobry vyecher” (good morning)( It’s all I knew). To the Iraqi man in the fruit business and the Iranian girl I trained who didn’t want to work. To the Canadian pastor, the Mexican bartender, the Nigerian security guard and the Lyberian children who carried their christmas presents on their head. To my Korean brother in the fight of faith and the Puerto Ricans who taught me how to pray. To the Armenian “Big Joe”, the Australians staying at “Happy Days Hostel” in Rome, The long lost Costa Rican friend Ileana, and the Greek waiter recommending “Easter Soup”. To Israeli Rabbi, raised in Detroit now in Israel, to the friends from Laos who served great Thai food, the list goes on.
… I want you to see Jesus in my life, and I will do everything I can to share my life with you.
Get it?
Andy
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I work in one hour. Battlefields are everywhere, this is mine tonight. My armor? Indestructible and Indispensable. My gear tonight? Tuxedo (my uniform) with black dress shoes (one with electrical tape on the heel.) So, I may not be the classiest guy around, but God gave me this job (crazy story) and I have free reign to share Jesus by how I work and live.. So I do! Pray that I would be used with every opportunity presented tonight.
Andy
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6
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One of my favorite views on the world.
Only one though. I have many hundred thousand. This one is special.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. Paul the apostle
Andy
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Last night, I was at steak and shake for a traditional night cap. (Milkshake and crappy diner food.) Among those who were there, there was Anthony, Erin, Kari, Luis, Meriah, Jihun, and myself. I decided to make a top ten list. Of what? Of anything. If I say top ten list, what is the first thing that comes to mind? So most of us did it, and here is what I came up with. Zero was a bonus. Ha!
2007 Top Ten (in no particular order)
10. The Word – Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14
9. Adventure – Acts 27
8. New Experiences – Philippians 3:12-14
7. Travel – Romans 15:19-21
6. Culture – Acts 28:2
5. Rome – Acts 28:30-31
4. Communication – Acts 22:2, 2 Tim 4:2
3. Family Meals (Italiano) – Acts 2:46
2. Late Nights – 2 Corinthians 6:5
1. Pastor Chilly – Hebrews 13:7, 13:17
0. Close Calls – 2 Corinthians 6
Andy
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Ok, so I made a quiz. A quiz on facebook. Why? I have no idea. But based upon those who have taken it so far either, A. I made it too hard. B. Lied on the quiz. C. People don’t know me. D. No way to tell. HA! So anyways here are a few things to share about me. Hopefully these things will be off the beaten path of who knows what questions
1. I used to read and get read classic books, in the children’s versions, when I was a kid. I am enthralled with them to this day.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Count of Monte Cristo
The Time Machine
Swiss Family Robinson
Treasure Isalnd
Robinson Crusoe
2. I lived in 3 different houses on Second St. Grabill IN, USA.
3. I have been fully convinced before only to realize that I was wrong.
4. I sung in front of the entire sixth grade a love song to Abbi Johnson. It goes to the
“always coca-cola” jingle
5. I broke my arm in football and my nose in baseball.
6. I was in the following plays and musicals
Ten Little Indians – “Rogers”
Hello Dolly – “Chorus”
Up the Down Staircase – “Rusty O’Brien
Lil’ Abner – Earthquake McGoon
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – “Huckleberry Finn”
Arsenic and Old Lace – “Teddy” – the crazy brother who thought he was the president Teddy Roosevelt
Meet Me in St. Louis – “Chorus”
7. I have only had two jobs.
I was a clerk at WeeBee Convenient for 4 years.
I currently have been with Starbucks for 3.5 Years.
*I worked for East of Chicago Pizza for 1 Day. (doesn’t count)
8. Brooklyn Street Grill is something almost therapeutic in my week.
2 Eggs. Rye Toast. Oatmeal. my new usual.
# 6 over easy, onions, rye. That is my old usual.
9. I was going to major in Philosophy and a week before met Pastor Chilly. I never went to register. Praise God.
10. Most of the time situations present themselves in a almost film-like “scene”. I have no idea why. Ask me and I will explain this to you.
11. I want to communicate, always.
12. my first sip of real coffee was in the Meridian Circle downtown Indianapolis. Starbucks Christmas Blend.
13. Mention adventure and you could sell me in a second.
14. I confuse myself, So instead of trying to figure me, out I figure out Christ.
15. My favorite pasta is Bucatini what is bucatini?
16. I own one cookbook. It’s called the silver spoon. what is the Silver Spoon?
17. I own one dvd. The Time Machine with guy pierce.
18. I try and remember every person I meet and I try to meet every person I can.
19. I am not interested in deep thoughts as much as in relationship.
20. Reading the Bible currently: Isaiah.
21. Memorizing: John.
22. Chapters I read more than others (i.e. favorites) : 2 Corinthians 6, Philippians 3, 1 Corinthians 9.
23. I like to drink one shot of espresso.
24. Sample cups of coffee are my new way of enjoying my employer’s great brews.
25. One quote that has changed my life: “Don’t be interesting, be interested.”
But I must add. “In any given situation, contribute.”
26. I have been profoundly impacted by the life and teaching of Chilly Chilton. He has challenged me to my knees, to the Bible, and to people as long as I have known him. I am eternally grateful.
27. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
What an adventure it’s been so far!
Andy
